Above: Sports Minister Patrick Simmons and Ambassador Xu Jianguo

The government of China has indicated an interest in building a new track and field stadium in Grenada, something hinted at by Chinese Ambassador Xu Jianguo during the recent signing of a cooperation agreement for Grenada’s cricket stadium.

Xu said that a Chinese technical team would make a determination by the end of the year.

Sports Minister Patrick Simmons said projects like these require tremendous planning, and noted that efforts were made as early as 2008 to reconstruct the stadium facility, which was partially destroyed by Hurricane Ivan in 2004.

“Based on preliminary discussions, there are indications that the Chinese may demolish the track and field and football stadium and rebuild a new facility,” Simmons said.

The new facility would include 8,000 permanent seats and another 2,000 temporary seats which could be relocated to other fields around Grenada.

Simmons joined Yu in signing the handing-over certificate of the first phase of the technical cooperation agreement on the country’s new cricket stadium.

The next phase, which will last two years, will include the lighting at the stadium.